Writing an opinion piece in Property118, David Coughlin stated

Landlords aren’t just a small piece of her strategy to rinse the country for all the money its got, we’re public enemy number one. We’re the primary target.

In summary he said:

When Chancellor Rachel Reeves was caught on camera in tears during Prime Minister’s Questions, the property world paid attention. She later dismissed it as “personal matters,” but the message was clear: pressure is mounting, and Labour’s economic strategy is pushing her to the brink.

Why does this matter to landlords?

Because under intense pressure to fill a looming budget deficit, the Chancellor is reportedly considering devastating new taxes aimed squarely at landlords. These aren’t minor tweaks — they’re potentially game-changing:

• 🔸 National Insurance on rental income – a 12% hike overnight

• 🔸 New rental-specific income tax bands

• 🔸 VAT on residential lettings – slashing yields by 20%

• 🔸 Further hikes to Capital Gains Tax

Make no mistake: landlords are no longer collateral damage — we’re the headline act. And this government, faced with spiralling costs and desperate to deliver on manifesto promises, is primed to claw back every pound it can.

Already Paying the Price

This comes on top of:

• Section 24 mortgage interest restrictions

• Soaring interest rates

• The cost of EPC and Decent Homes Standard compliance

• The Renters’ Rights Bill removing no-fault evictions

• Costly selective and additional licensing schemes

It’s adding up to tens of thousands per property – a burden many landlords simply can’t carry anymore.

What the Data Says

• 🔹 26% of landlords sold at least one property in 2024 – a record, according to Savills

• 🔹 Landlord Action reports more Section 21 notices issued by landlords selling up than Section 8 repossessions

• 🔹 Anecdotally, the trend is accelerating into 2025

These aren’t amateur landlords panic-selling. These are experienced investors who see what’s coming and are moving their capital while values are still holding.

Why Timing Is Everything

Governments under pressure don’t make rational, investor-friendly decisions. They make political ones. And in the crosshairs is the landlord community. If you’re waiting for stability or policy reversals, you may be waiting too long.

The market is still holding. Yields are still reasonable. Buyers still exist. But they won’t forever.

Final Thought

You might be thinking: “Maybe I’ll just hold a bit longer.”

But professional landlords aren’t. They’re reading the room, watching the numbers, and acting decisively. The real question is not if to sell, but whether you’ll act before or after everyone else does.